Cheshire East Council has released this sneak preview of the planned new university technical college which will train up young people for the future.

The UTC will be based in the heart of Crewe at the site of the former Victoria High School and provide people with skills in advanced engineering and manufacturing.

An application for government funding is currently being put together with the support of a consortium of local organisations, including Bentley, OSL Rail, Oliver Valves, MMU, and Cheshire East Council and Siemens.

If successful the new UTC, which will cater for 600 students aged between 14 and 19-years old, is expected to be up and running by September 2015.

The former Victoria High School site

Cheshire East leader Michael Jones said: “We’re putting the application forward (to the DfE) in October and a decision should be announced in January.”

He said the council was in a strong position because the UTC was being backed by engineering giants with so much expertise.

UTCs specialise in subjects that require technical and modern equipment.

The chosen areas of specialism are intended to reflect the university’s areas of excellence and the needs of local employers.

There will be up to £10m capital grant awarded and a further £300k project development grant awarded upon approval of the application.

“Cheshire East Council has a strong vision to enable people to prosper and grow in our borough and this concept feeds into this ambition,” said Cllr Jones. “If the application is approved, the East Cheshire UTC could serve to catalyse the growth agenda for the borough and the wider sub-region, and facilitate the delivery of the ‘All Change for Crewe’ regeneration strategy.”

Bentley Motors is also enthusiastic about the proposal.

Spokesman Mike Hawes told the Chronicle: “It could do a lot for Crewe and the surrounding area, given it focuses on vocational skills in manufacturing and engineering.”

He added: “These are the type of skills we (Bentley) would be looking for. UTCs make people ‘work-ready’.”

Mr Hawes said such colleges also give young people an alternative to academic secondary education.

“People aren’t all the same,” he said. “While some people thrive in an academic environment, other people are more practical and a more vocational approach would suit that.”

If the bid to the DfE is successful Cheshire East is expecting to submit the planning application by the summer of next year.

And it is hoping the college will open – initially with about 400 students – by the autumn term of 2015.

The news is yet another boost for the town which the council leader wants to become ‘the engineering centre for the north west’.

Last month Bentley announced the new SUV was to be designed and built in Crewe.